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Driving offence codes explained

A driving offence in the UK can have some pretty serious consequences, not least penalty points on your licence.

Here’s a look at the most common driving conviction codes and what they mean.   

A driving offence in the UK can have some pretty serious consequences, not least penalty points on your licence.

Here’s a look at the most common driving conviction codes and what they mean.   

Written by
Julie Daniels
Motor insurance comparison expert
Reviewed by
Kate Hughes
Insurance expert
Last Updated
6 OCTOBER 2022
8 min read
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Most common driving offences

If you’re convicted of a driving offence in the UK, penalty points, officially known as endorsements, will be put on your licence.

Every driving conviction is given an endorsement code, which will stay on your licence for four or 11 years depending on the offence.

Depending on how serious the offence is, you could also end up in court, face a driving disqualification or even be sent to prison. 

The most common driving convictions are for:

Driving conviction codes 

Accident offences (AC)

The following codes and penalty points stay on a licence for four years from the date of the offence:  

Code Offence Penalty points
AC10 Failing to stop after an accident  5 to 10 
AC20 Failing to give particulars or report an accident within 24 hours  5 to 10 
AC30 Undefined accident offences  4 to 9 


Disqualified Driver (DD) 

The following stay on a licence for four years from the date of the offence:

Code Offence Penalty points
BA10 Driving while disqualified by order of court  6
BA30 Attempting to drive while disqualified  6

The following stay on a licence for four years from the date of conviction: 

Code Offence Penalty points
BA40 Causing death by driving while disqualified  3 to 11
BA60 Causing serious injury by driving while disqualified  3 to 11


Careless driving (CD) 

The following stay on a licence for four years from the date of the offence:

Code Offence Penalty points
CD10 Driving without due care and attention  3 to 9
CD20 Driving without reasonable consideration for other road users  3 to 9
CD30 Driving without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other road users  3 to 9
CD33 Causing serious injury by careless driving  3 to 9

The following stay on a licence for 11 years from the date of conviction: 

Code Offence Penalty points
CD40 Causing death through careless driving when unfit through drink  3 to 11
CD50 Causing death by careless driving when unfit through drugs  3 to 11
CD60 Causing death by careless driving with alcohol level above the limit  3 to 11
CD70 Causing death by careless driving then failing to supply a specimen for alcoholic analysis  3 to 11

The following stay on a licence for four years from the date of conviction: 

Code Offence Penalty points
CD80 Causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving  3 to 11
CD90 Causing death by driving unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured  3 to 11


Construction and use offences (CU)

The following stay on a licence for four years from the date of the offence:  

Code Offence Penalty points
CU10 Using a vehicle with defective brakes  3
CU20 Causing or likely to cause danger by reason of use of unsuitable vehicle or using a vehicle with parts or accessories (excluding brakes, steering or tyres) in a dangerous condition  3
CU30 Using a vehicle with defective tyre (s)  3
CU40 Using a vehicle with defective steering  3
CU50 Causing or likely to cause danger by reason of load or passengers  3
CU80 Breach of requirements as to control of the vehicle, such as using a mobile phone  3 to 6


Reckless/dangerous driving (DD) 

The following stay on a licence for four years from the date of conviction: 

Code Offence Penalty points
DD10 Causing serious injury by dangerous driving  3 to 11
DD40 Dangerous driving  3 to 11
DD60 Manslaughter or culpable homicide with driving a vehicle  3 to 11
DD80 Causing death by dangerous driving  3 to 11
DD80 Furious driving  3 to 9


Drink (DR)

The following drink driving endorsements stay on a licence for 11 years from the date of conviction:  

Code Offence Penalty points
DR10 Driving or attempting to drive with alcohol level above the limit  3 to 11
DR20 Driving or attempting to drive while unfit through drink  3 to 11
DR30 Driving or attempting to drive while then failing to supply a specimen for analysis  3 to 11
DD31 Driving or attempting to drive then refusing to give permission for analysis of a blood sample that was taken without consent due to incapacity  3 to 11
DD61 Refusing to give permission for analysis of a blood sample that was taken without consent due to incapacity in circumstances other than driving or attempting to drive  10

The following stay on a licence for four years from the date of offence or for four years from date of conviction if disqualified: 

Code Offence Penalty points
DR40 In charge of a vehicle while alcohol level above limit  10
DR50 In charge of a vehicle while unfit through drink  10
DR60 Failure to provide a specimen for analysis in circumstances other than driving or attempting to drive  10
DR70 Failing to co-operate with a preliminary test  4


Drugs (DG) 

The following drug offences stay on a licence for 11 years from the date of conviction: 

Code Offence Penalty points
DG10 Driving or attempting to drive with drug level about the specified limit  3 to 11
DG60 Causing death by careless driving with drug level above limit  3 to 11
DG80 Driving or attempting to drive when unfit through drugs  3 to 11

The following stay on a licence for four years from the date of the offence or for four years from the date of conviction if disqualified: 

Code Offence Penalty points
DG40 In charge of a vehicle while drug level above specified limit  10
DG70 Failing to co-operate with a preliminary test  4
DG90 In charge of a vehicle when unfit through drugs  10


Insurance offences (IN) 

This endorsement for driving without insurance stays on a licence for four years from the date of offence: 

Code Offence Penalty points
IN10 Using a vehicle uninsured against third party risks  6 to 8


Licence offences (LC) 

The following stay on a licence for four years from the date of the offence:  

Code Offence Penalty points
LC20 Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence** 3 to 6
LC30 Driving after making a false declaration about fitness when applying for a licence  3 to 6
LC40 Driving while failing to notify the DVLA of a disability  3 to 6
LC50 Driving after licence has been cancelled (revoked) or refused on medical grounds  3 to 6


**An example of an LC20 offence would be to drive a vehicle – such as an HGV – that isn’t covered by your licence.  

Miscellaneous offences (MS) 

The following stay on a licence for four years from the date of the offence:  

Code Offence Penalty points
MS10 Leaving a vehicle in a dangerous position  3
MS20 Unlawful pillion riding  3
MS30 Play street offences***  2
MS50 Motor racing on the highway  3 to 11
MS60 Offences not covered by other codes  3
MS70 Driving with uncorrected defective eyesight  3
MS80 Refusing to do an eyesight test  3
MS90 Failing to give information as to the identity of driver etc  6


***For example, driving on a playground or recreational area that’s officially closed off to traffic. 


Motorway offences (MW) 

The following offence for breaking motorway regulations – excluding speeding – stays on a licence for four years from the date of the offence:  

Code Offence Penalty points
MW10 Contravention of special roads regulations (excluding speed limits)  3


Pedestrian crossings (PC)

The following stay on a licence for four years for the date of the offence: 

Code Offence Penalty points
PC10 Undefined contravention of pedestrian crossing regulations  3
PC20 Contravention of pedestrian crossing regulations with moving vehicle  3
PC30 Contravention of pedestrian crossing regulations with stationary vehicle****  3


****For example, parking on a zebra crossing. 


Speed limits (SP) 

The following speeding endorsements stay on a licence for four years from the date of the offence:  

Code Offence Penalty points
SP10 Exceeding goods vehicle speed limits  3 to 6 
SP20 Exceeding speed limit for type of vehicle (excluding goods or passenger vehicles)  3 to 6 
SP30 Exceeding statutory speed limit on a public road  3 to 6 
SP40 Exceeding passenger vehicle speed limit  3 to 6 
SP50 Exceeding speed limit on a motorway  3 to 6 


Traffic direction and signs (TS) 

The following stay on a licence for four years from the date of the offence:  

Code Offence Penalty points
TS10 Failing to comply with traffic light signals  3
TS20 Failing to comply with double white lines  3
TS30 Failing to comply with a ‘stop’ sign  3
TS40 Failing to comply with direction of a constable/warden  3
TS50 Failing to comply with other traffic signs  3
TS60 Failing to comply with a school crossing patrol sign  3
TS70 Undefined failure to comply with a traffic direction sign  3


‘Mutual recognition’ codes 

You’ll get an ‘MR’ code if you’re disqualified while driving in Northern Ireland or the Isle of Man. This code is valid for four years. 

Code Offence
MR09 Reckless or dangerous driving 
MR19 Failing to help the other driver after a hit and run  
MR29 Driving under the influence of alcohol or other drug 
MR39 Driving over the speed limit 
MR49 Driving whilst disqualified 
MR59 Any other offence that leads to a driving ban  


Code TT99 

This code shows that the licence owner has been disqualified after ‘totting up’ 12 or more penalty points within three years. 

This code stays on your licence, banning you from driving for four years from the date of conviction. 

Vehicle theft (UT50)

The UT50 code for stealing a vehicle will result in three to 11 penalty points and stays on your licence for four years from the date of the offence.  

Complicit offences 

If you help, permit or encourage someone else to commit a driving offence, your licence will also be endorsed with a number in relation to the endorsement code: 

  • For aiding an offence, such as helping someone to steal a vehicle, the last number to a 2 
  • For permitting an offence, for example, if a passenger answers a mobile phone (not hands-free) then passes it to the driver, the last number will change from a 0 to a 4 
  • For encouraging someone to commit an offence, the last number will change from a 0 to a 6 

How to check if you’ve got points on your licence

You can see information about your driving licence on the DVLA website. If you’ve been convicted of a driving offence, you’ll be able to see any penalty points, as well as the corresponding endorsement code.

Driving offences and car insurance

While some offences can be fairly minor, any endorsements on your licence could have a negative impact on your car insurance.  
If you have penalty points on your licence, it’s likely that you’ll end up paying more for your car insurance.  
If it’s a more serious conviction, you might find it difficult to find an insurance provider who will cover you, so you may have to look for specialist convicted driver insurance.  
Even though it’s an extra cost, it might be worth adding motor legal protection to your car insurance policy. This can help cover you legal defence costs if you’re accused of a motoring offence.  

Top tip

To avoid an IN10 driving without insurance endorsement, take your car off the road and declare it SORN with the DVLA. This will allow you to keep your car in a garage or on your driveway without having to tax or insure it. Be aware that it’s illegal to park your car on the road or drive it while it’s uninsured.   

Julie Daniels - Motor insurance expert

Julie is passionate about delivering a great customer experience and rewarding people for saving on their insurance through our loyalty and rewards programme. She’s spoken to the media, including outlets like Sky News and Capital FM, about car and home insurance, as well as our rewards scheme.

Learn more about Julie

Kate Hughes – Insurance and finance expert

As an award-winning journalist, author and broadcast commentator, Kate has been writing about personal finance for more than 20 years. She’s the former money editor for The Independent. Her work has appeared across the UK broadsheets as well as a number of international titles. Kate brings her financial expertise to inform her readers on ways to save money. She’s also written a book. ‘Going Zero: One Family’s Journey to Zero Waste and a Greener Lifestyle’ is available now.

Learn more about Kate

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